Haveil Havalim #137

9 of the Eighth Month 5768

Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It's hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Soccer Dad. The term 'Haveil Havalim,' which means "Vanity of Vanities," is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other 'excesses' and realized that it was nothing but 'hevel,' or in English, 'vanity.'

One of the big responsibilities I find hosting Haveil Havalim is my perceived necessity to compose some fabulous and unforgettable introduction.

I just finished writing a long, yet un-fabulous, and totally forgettable one. You cannot see it below, because I erased it. I did leave two, completely unrelated parts, the parts which I believe are the most reflective of the personality of your host this week:

1) ...I am currently "between jobs," and hosting Haveil Havalim helped me to feel like I was being productive....a side benefit, above and beyond the enjoyment of hosting)

2) ...I began trying to search for hidden meanings in the number 137. The first thought which popped into my mind was Psalm 137, recalling it to be highly politically incorrect.

I will leave you to ponder the possible meanings behind those two statements taken out of context from the introduction I wrote, and then quickly erased, believing it to be worthy only of deletion.

*Update: Thanks to Soccer Dad, and now have something significant to mention regarding Psalm 137, and thus the number 137. I was so focused on being politically-incorrect, that I completely spaced out on the true significance of this psalm for today.

Psalms 137:5-6

ה אִם-אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם-- תִּשְׁכַּח יְמִינִי.

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

ו תִּדְבַּק-לְשׁוֹנִי, לְחִכִּי-- אִם-לֹא אֶזְכְּרֵכִי:
אִם-לֹא אַעֲלֶה, אֶת-יְרוּשָׁלִַם-- עַל, רֹאשׁ שִׂמְחָתִי.

6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; {N}
if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy.
Like I was going to say before (but deleted prematurely), spiritual meanings are revealed when they are supposed to be revealed, and not a second beforehand!

As you scroll down to the News section, I think you will be with me in understanding the significance of these p'suqim (verses).

I now present Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival, Edition 137.


Torah

Elie's Expositions opens this week's Carnival with a D'var Torah from last week's Parshath HaShavu'a, No'ah, in Half Lives.

Yitz at Heicahl HaNegina presents a collection of pieces in Let It Rain, Let It Pour!

Avrohom brings us his Daf Notes on the Babylonian Talmud: Kethubboth 48: Husband Imposing Stringencies on his Wife and 49: Supporting Your Children.

The Jewish Soul

Dixie Yid shares a nice story from the Alter of Slabodka ztz"l which suggests that where you are headed is more important than where you are, in Which Way Is Up?

In a similar post, helpful lessons can be learned from Akiva at Mystical Paths in Out Of Sync.

Rivkah Lambert Adler shares an overview of her studies of Rav Avraham Yitzhaq HaKohen Kook ztz"l, elaborating on how the Jewish soul is interwoven with the Land of Israel.

Conservative-Liberal Eric-Odessit gives us a compelling, and perhaps not so well-known, story in Jewish history with Two Flags: The untold story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and its relevance today. The power of the Jewish spirit is also revealed in Soccer Dad's review of the Dreyfus Affair, in light of the Dreyfus Exhibit currently on display at the Yeshivah University Museum.

Mother In Israel at the Shalom Bayit blog brings us the story of a family challenge in One Woman's Story.

An unfortunately true challenge to us as a nation is revealed by Rafi at Life In Israel in Destruction Of Rabbanut is Almost Complete. This has been reported on and hinted to in the news here in Israel over a long period of time. But, I place it here, as rabbis serve as the spiritual, as well as religious guides to many of us. It also bridges this section with the news section.

News And Commentary


There has been a lot of chatter lately about the Israeli soldiers being held captive, Ron Arad, who has been held for 21 years (13 Tishrei/October 16) in Lebanon, and Gilad Shalit in Azza. Tom Gross at NRO reports on where Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev may now be, after they were captured last summer by Hizbollah YSh"W.

And speaking of Lebanon, Brian at Snapped Shot reveals some of the latest photographic spin from there. While Carl at Israel Matzav points to a disturbing development in US to Enter into 'Strategic Partnership' with Hezbullah-backed Group
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Avi at Tel-Chai Nation is one of those bloggers who keeps his ear to the ground, keeping us all up to date on current events in Israel. This week he says, I think it should be obvious by now that Avigdor Liebermen is worthless. I have learned that Avi does not make such statements lightly. So I suggest you check out this post, and find out why he thinks this. Avi also brings us a report on the Three Criminal Probes into activities of the Israeli prime minister.

Whether one agrees or not with the intentions of U. S. Secretary of State Rice, Carl at Israel Matzav provides us with Condi Rice's Extraordinarily Bad Day, which even evokes some sympathy from me, in her attempts at dealing with the knuckleheads in the Israeli government, including the Delusional Prime Minister. But, Carl's eye-opening Rice's Puppet Government immediately quashes that sympathy, as it appears she is able to exercise quite a bit of control over them after all.

Speaking of the Israeli Government, do we yet know what was bombed in Syria? Snoopy The Goon at Simply Jews gives us the latest report in Syrian Officials Admit Site Attacked.

Batya at Shiloh Musings tells us about a radio interview she gave regarding the concessions currently up for discussion in It's Not About Shiloh. Then closer to home, gives us a first-hand report on this week's teachers' demonstration in Tel-Aviv in Another Amona?, as well as What Israeli Teachers Want.

I report on an annual ritual of violating the civil rights of Jews in Judea and Samaria in 'Tis The Season....

West Bank Mama honestly states that she does not know what the solution is during this season, yet acknowledges that we must remain On Our Guard.

Ezra HaLevi at the Kumah Blog reports on one possible solution, and the recent uproar it seems to have been causing in Avoda Ivrit Roundup.

No here is my requisite mention of issues which everyone seems to be concerned about but me: The Two Anns You want to know about it, so, as we say in Israel,...bevaqashah....

Ann Coulter:
One by A Town Crier and one by Debbie Schlussel.

Annapolis:
One by Carl and one by Schvach Yid.

Although any parallels suggested between ANNapolis and Oslo cannot go without mentioning, like in Dream Team by The Hasmonean.

The truth s that I really have to say Kol HaKavod to those who took the time to write about this issue, including Marty Peretz at The Spine who reminds us of some important historical background in The One Reality In Annapolis.

Now, what's all this I hear about the creation of yet another Arab state??!! Well, Yid With Lid has the Perfect Solution to the [so-called] Jerusalem Issue. Not far behind is Snoopy The Goon at Simply Jews with U. S. Wants Palestinian State Now.

Yisrael at My Right Word provides some background to Arab claims to the Kotel (Western Wall) in Why 1930 is Relevant to the Temple Mount Issue in 2007, with Elder Of Zion adding his commentary in The British and the Wall.

Meanwhile, Yid With Lid lets us know about Aliyah of 7,000 B'nei Menashe Not Allowed.

Now it's down to Virginia where Boker Tov, Boulder provides news of sanity amongst the insanity by introducing us to Rep. Eric Cantor fighting against Temple Mount Destruction.

Media Watch

News media sources are of great concern when it comes to Israel. ShrinkWrapped asks the question about MSM Bias and Pallywood: Incompetence or Malice?

While some news stories are distorted, others are buried, like the one Omri at Mere Rhetoric brings us, World Silent As....

The Ongoing War Blog presents another story which received only very limited media coverage, Voting with Their Mortars and with Their Feet.

Jules Crittenden gives us a glimpse into Hamas YSh"W television in Rage! Rage! Rage!

Back in the U. S., Schvah Yid has concerns about American television and Jewish Public Image, and Yid With Lid is concerned with something more than just a media bias in Fighting Back Against the "Jewish Lobby" Slander

Although I agree with The Hasmonean's post CNN’s Stature in Israel Approaches Irrelevant, I am surprised that Israelis are finally waking up. I guess that a private company like HOT has more leeway in the independent thinking department. But, still, were they, and the Jerusalem Post blind to the CNN bumper stickers I was already seeing in Jerusalem years ago?

Fortunately, we bloggers are quite to fill any media void with our commentary. Zionist Youngster's blog Our Children are Our Guarantors is one I would like to take the opportunity to recommend that you check out for commentary.


Israeli Slices Of Life


First of all, in order to experience an Israeli "slice of life," you have to come Israel. Batya, one of Arutz 7's featured bloggers tells you in galuth Come On! Lech, Go! I'm Talking Lecha, To You!

Yet, in getting here, AmEchad expresses concern over the Nefesh b'Nefesh organization.


Sukkot in the Old City from The Streets Of Jerusalem blog.

Batya shares photos of her first grandson in Night Before the Brit Milah and Yochai Aryeh's Brit Milah.

A Mother In Israel shares her personal, and heart-felt experience In Which her Son Gets Kicked Out of Yeshivah. Meanwhile, another one of her children adjusts to first grade in Shalom Kitah Alef.

One of the kinds of "slice of life" stories in Israel I can never get enough of is about "tremping" (hitchhiking). What it illegal in the U. S., is actually a necessity for many of us here in Israel. I have bumped into some of the most interesting people tremping. But, I have also had some of my most difficult experiences in Israel tremping. Here's one from Batya at Me-Ander.

One fun and fantastically descriptive slice of life blog from Israel is Doodle Head's. Doodle Head is a yeshiva student from the U. S. in his second year in Jerusalem. Not only does he manage to keep up with his learning, he seems to be making the most of is Israel experience, hiking the full length of Israel, spending Shabbatot in cities and towns across the country, and learning about the various causes in which residents are active. Get a first0hand account of a student's life in Israel from Doodle Head.

I will end this section with another mazal tov post, because I believe that's what life is all about, improving ourselves and improving the world, and then handing off to the next generation what we have learned, and what we have done, and let them take over. Now, please say hello to the latest addition to fellow blogger Rafi G's family. Mazal Tov!

Slices Of Life From Galuth

Dixie Yid provides us with photos and a video of Rav Tzvi Mayer Zilberberg's Visit to his schul in Woodmere, NY.

A Simple Jew shares how his family said goodbye to the television in American Idol Banished.

And, even though I am not from New York, I could relate to Maya saying Good Bye, Great Lawn.

This news item Diversity? by Ocean Guy, actually seems to have started out as a "slice of life" item. How many of you have ever brought a souvenir back from vacation for a friend?

Life for the Jews in the U. S. can be a struggle as the Jewish Blogmeister shows us in Chabad House in Trenton Under Fire. This is also true for the Jews Being Set Up in Turkey, as revealed by Mr. Bagel Blogger.

Mottel at Letters Of Thought gives us a photo essay The Industry of Wine. I am not sure where this is. I assume it is outside of Israel, as I know that Mottel would have called me, if he were in the country.

Finishing up the Slices Of Life Sections, I want to make mention of two bloggers whom most of you already know. They did not submit anything this week. But, if you are interested in the goings on in the lives of two Jewish students, check out Irina's The Ignoble Experiment and Tnspr569's How To Measure The Years.

Health

Yitzhak of Judeopundit suggests we re-examine our respective diets in Potato Kugel Greater Threat Than Global Warming.

From an alternative perspective, Rafi from Life In Israel brings us Two Health Segulahs.

From an increasingly mainstream perspective, Frumstepper gives us her take on how Humility Is Not Humiliation.

Linguistics

Here's a blog which may be new to you, so I will honor it with a place in its own section. Visit David the Hebrew Language Detective to find out the etymology of the Hebrew word Eqdah.

Humor

Pillage Idiot eve-drops on a conversation between U. S. presidential hopeful Ron Paul and his cocker spaniel. I don't really see how this is related to being Jewish nor Israel, but that last time I checked herring is kosher,...if that makes any sense.

We can always count on the Israeli Satire Laboratory to come up with something Israel-related to tickle our funny bones, yet, at the same time call attention to important issues. Check out It's News! It's Satire! No, It's the Palestinians - Claiming The Western Wall!, a lighter side to the news story mentioned above.

Rafael brings us this most excellent photo of Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's "true color:" HA! HA! HA! I'll get you my little settler!

And now, I must bid you adieu, and go out and find a job already....

Special thanks to Soccer Dad for helping me to scour the Internet for interesting posts, and to Mechon Mamre for its free, on-line library which includes Torah, Nevi'im, Kethuvim, Mishnah, Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds, the Ramba"m's Mishnah Torah, and more!

Also, check out the current editions of the Kosher Cooking Carnival hosted by Ted at Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen

...and the JPix Blog Carnival hosted by Baleboosteh.

Please send your posts for next week's edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival via the Blog Carnival Submission Form. I found this to be very helpful in organizing your posts this week. Plus, it doesn't look like we have a host for next week, so there wouldn't be any other place to send your links to. If you're interested in hosting please contact Soccer Dad at dhgerstman at hotmail dot com.